Motor imagery may reduce movement-related fear in specific rehabilitation groups
A review found greater improvement in fear scores when graded motor imagery accompanied physical therapy; the size and durability of improvements remain unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The included trials reported greater improvement in fear-related scores when graded motor imagery accompanied physical therapy. These findings came from specific shoulder, elbow and knee rehabilitation groups. The abstract does not establish how noticeable the improvements were, how long they lasted, or whether the approach helps people with other musculoskeletal conditions.
This abstract-based account cannot establish benefit size or durability: participant totals, effect sizes and follow-up durations are not reported. The authors also call for research on treatment parameters.
What researchers found
Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire scores
In frozen shoulder, imagery plus physical therapy improved scores more than physical therapy alone. Assessment timing and effect size were not reported.
What the review examined
The authors examined movement-related fear during limb rehabilitation. They screened randomized trials for methodological quality and included those meeting their quality threshold. The reported findings therefore describe a selected set of rehabilitation studies.
Separate outcomes
The review also reported improvements in pain, shoulder movement and disability measures. These outcomes are distinct from fear of movement, and the abstract gives no numerical effect sizes for judging their practical importance.
The original publication
Effects of Motor Imagery on Movement-Based Fear in Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Critically Appraised Topic.
Pearcy ME, Leonard GE, Palfrey ME et al.
J Sport Rehabil · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41569865
- Record checked
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